The Best Haunted Houses To Visit In Every State Gallery

Built by Dr. John R. Drish in 1837 on a 450-acre plantation, the Drish House is an Alabama landmark with a tragic story. In 1867, Drish took a fall down the stairs after drinking too much. His grieving widow planned an elaborate funeral and then saved the funeral candles to be used for her own. When she passed away 17 years later, however, her family failed to find the candles, which is said to have led to Sarah's angered spirit coming back to haunt the house with spooky occurrences including people seeing the third-story tower on fire yet finding no fire present.

The beautiful Rosson House was built in the late 19th century for a physician-turned-politician and his family in Phoenix. Today, it operates as a historic museum, and many museums and visitors have reported hearing the footsteps on the stairs, said to belong to a former caretaker who was shot down outside the house in the 1980s.

A nationally registered historic place and California landmark, the Winchester Mystery House is a beautiful Queen Anne-style Victorian mansion that was once the home of Sarah Winchester, widow of William Wirt Winchester, owner of the arms company famed for the Winchester rifle. Reports of paranormal activity date back to the construction of the home, which began in 1884. Sarah Winchester herself was among the many who claimed that the grounds were haunted by multiple spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles. Those curious to learn more of the fascinating tale can take day tours of the property, which continues to be one of the most popular Halloween attractions in the state.

Known as the Huguenot House, the Makens Bemont House in Connecticut is a historic home built in 1761 and is said to be haunted by a friendly duo known as Benny and the Blue Lady. Benny, so named by workers restoring the building, has been claimed to be the source of mysterious bangs, scratching, and crashes around the house, whereas the Blue Lady — so named due to her blue dress — has been seen on multiple occasions through the windows.

In the land of sunshine and near one of Florida's best beaches, Stranahan House offers a historic yet spooky experience. A nationally registered historic place, the historic house museum was once the home of Frank and Ivy Stranahan, local philanthropists and pioneers. There are said to be six spirits haunting the house, including that of Frank Stranahan after he drowned himself in the river by the home during the Great Depression. Tours of the home are open to the public, meant to teach guests about the culture and history of the area in the early 1900s, and there have been reports of rooms changing temperature randomly as well as furniture and other objects moving of their own accord.

Kailua-Kona is one of those destinations where the weather is always just right, and if you're looking for a bit of a thrill while visiting, you should make sure to check out Hulihe'e Palace. More of a mansion, Hulihe'e Palace serves as a museum today but was once a vacation home for Hawaiian royalty. It is said that Hawaiian monarchs haunt the place now, as does the ghost of a young Hawaiian boy.

Hull House is the most haunted spot in the state, not just Chicago, founded in 1889 by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr as a settlement house for newly arrived European immigrants. Claims of paranormal activity go back to its very early days, with many ghost sightings having been reported, including that of the wife of its original owner. Addams claimed one of the front bedrooms was haunted, stating that she and a friend once encountered a "woman in white" there who was also later seen by others. The scariest story, however, tells of a man who said that he would rather have Satan in his home than a picture of the Virgin Mary. He subsequently had a child who was born with scaly skin, horns, pointed ears, and a tail; the child's mother left him at Hull House, and it is said that Addams tried to have the child baptized before locking him up in the attic. (Nobel Prize winner Addams herself steadfastly denied that the story had any basis in reality.)

One of the most terrifying places on the planet, the Villisca Axe Murder House was the site of a brutal massacre on June 9, 1912 when the Moore family, consisting of Josiah and Sarah Moore and their four young children, were axed to death alongside two of their houseguests. Despite an exhaustive investigation and two trials — one that ended in a hung jury and another in an acquittal — justice was never served, and it is said that the ghosts of the victims haunt the home to this day. Day tours are available, and so is the chance to stay overnight.

If you're ever taking a weekend trip to Louisville, the Ronald-Brennan House — also known simply as the Brennan House — is a local favorite. The historic three-story townhouse was built in 1868 for tobacco merchant Francis Ronald, who sold the house in 1884 to Thomas Brennan, an Irish immigrant and equipment manufacturer who lived in the home with his wife and eight children. The house stayed in the Brennan family until 1963, and today it serves as the home of a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Louisville culture and heritage. It also allegedly still serves as the home of many Brennans, who have been reportedly spotted by visitors on the grounds or in photographs taken there. Two Brennan daughters, known to have been musicians, are said to be responsible for the sound of a piano and violin playing, and Dr. John Brennan, one of Thomas' sons, is said to be the reason for the smell of cigar smoke from time to time.

Located in budget-friendly Portland, Maine, the Charles Q. Clapp House is a historic home built in 1832 for Charles Q. Clapp, son of one of the city's richest businessmen and a real estate developer. While it has since then been owned by various art schools and museums, Clapp's presence is still said to be apparent in the form of his own ghostly apparition. People have also reported feeling cold spots and hearing footsteps when there's no one else around. There have also been reports of another female entity wearing a long dress and crying out of what seems to be grief, although there is no certainty as to who she could be.

Although she was acquitted, Lizzie Borden is widely believed to have been responsible for the 1892 axe murders of her father and stepmother in their home. In 1996, that home was turned into a bed-and-breakfast where you can actually spend the night. Stay only if you dare, however; there have been many reports of ghost sightings, cold spots, and the sounds of screaming, crying, and even Lizzie's laughter.

The Palmer House is one of many haunted spots in St. Paul. Technically a hotel, it was built in 1901 by Ralph and Christena Palmer, who resided here and ran a hotel for traveling salesmen. It continues to operate as a hotel, and is also a popular spot for those interested in the paranormal. Many ghost sightings have been reported here, with the most common reports being of odd temperature drops, the sounds of children playing when there are none, and the sight of a woman in a red turban and flowing scarf. It is said that Room 11 in particular is the most haunted of the bunch.

There are many reasons to love St. Louis, and if you love a good spook, you'll definitely enjoy a stay at the Lemp Mansion, home of the Lemp family, owners and operators of the Lemp Brewing Company. The many tragedies of this house began in 1901 when Frederick Lemp, the son of William J. Lemp, died of heart failure in 1901. After William's best friend Frederick Pabst (of Pabst Brewing Company fame) also passed away in 1904, he shot himself that same year. More tragedies occurred in the house, with three other Lemp children killing themselves in the home over the next 45 years. Today owned by another family, the mansion is now an inn and restaurant with historic and haunted tours, as well as Halloween parties and murder mystery dinners.

Bailey House is the former home of Captain Benson M. Bailey, a Civil War veteran; today it serves as a museum. Bailey had the house moved from its original spot to its current location in 1877; a few years later, first his wife and then the captain himself died in the house. According to legend, both were poisoned by a local widow who had taken a liking to Bailey, and their ghosts supposedly haunt the building to this day. Both staff and visitors of the Bailey House Museum have claimed that doors throughout the house will at times refuse to stay closed and that piano music can be heard throughout the house when there's no piano being played.

A historic house museum located in photogenic Portsmouth, the John Paul Jones House was built in 1758 for Captain Gregory Purcell and his wife Sarah as a boarding house where American Revolutionary War hero John Paul Jones stayed from 1781 to 1782. Today, there are many ghostly entities said to haunt the house, including Sarah herself, who has been spotted in the windows of the home. Paranormal investigators have also claimed running into John Paul Jones in his old room, and other ghostly apparitions have been encountered throughout the house as well.

Many famous people have stayed at Bottger Mansion, including Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, and the beautiful bed-and-breakfast holds a lot of history, having been the first Albuquerque home to get gas lighting. With that history comes ghosts, and the original owner Charles Bottger is said to haunt the halls. Other ghostly entities include a sighing lady and "The Lover," known to get into the beds of sleeping women.

America's biggest house is a bucket list destination that's both beautiful as well as quite a bit haunted. George Washington Vanderbilt II, the original owner of the estate, is said to still haunt his old home, and many say they can hear his wife's voice speaking to him in the library, as she often did after his death. Also allegedly heard are mysterious voices, splashes, and laughter, at the swimming pool when there's no one there, and a ghostly, headless cat has been seen roaming around at night as well.

Cleveland is an underrated destination with much to do, including visiting Franklin Castle, a gorgeous home with four stories, over 20 rooms, and 80 windows. Also known as Tiedemann House, it was originally owned by Hannes Tiedemann, a wealthy German immigrant. After they moved in, multiple members of the Tiedemann family died in the home due to various causes, starting with his 15-year-old daughter in 1891. Hannes eventually sold the house to another family, and by 1908, all members of the Tiedemann clan were dead. The following years led to many claims of ghostly encounters, including mysterious organ music, cold spots, ghost children, and the inability of any owner to keep the house for very long.

Located in Oregon Caves National Monument, Oregon Caves Chateau is one of the most incredible national park lodges in North America. Built on a steep ravine, it's a beautifully rustic getaway, although you may not be alone. Legend states that a woman named Elizabeth died by suicide here in 1937, and her spirit is still there, hanging out in the sixth-floor hallway during the day before taking to the rest of the lodge during the night.

Newport is famous for its dramatic shorelines and the gorgeous mansions overlooking them. One of those mansions is Belcourt Castle, which has changed ownership many times since it was built in the late 19th century. As beautiful as it is, Belcourt is still quite haunted. It is said that the ghost of a monk haunts the place, and among the many strange things there are a haunted suit of armor and two chairs that will eject anyone who attempts to sit in them.

Deadwood is the one must-see small town in the state of South Dakota, and if you ever make it out to Deadwood, you'll enjoy a visit to the historic Adams House, especially if you're interested in the paranormal. Built in the late 19th century, it is now a museum — the oldest in the Black Hills — and also home to the spirit of former owner W.E. Adams. According to legend, Adams passed away in the house, and when his wife came across his ghost, she decided to move out, leaving everything in the house behind. People have said they can smell Mr. Adams' cigar smoke in the house or have seen its rocking chairs move of their own accord.

Known as The Grove, the Stilley-Young House is yet another historic house built in 1861 by businessman W. Frank Stilley and his wife Minerva Fox. The property has changed hands in the many decades since, but many claim that Minerva is still there, often seen walking outside the house or going through its walls. The Grove is considered one of the most haunted spots in Texas, with a lot of other paranormal activity going on, such as disembodied voices, moving objects, loud screams, mirrors falling off of walls, and guests feeling as though they're being watched.

Hartness House was built in 1904 for James Hartness, an interesting man who owned a machine factory, became Governor of Vermont, and was also one of America's first licensed airplane pilots, having even hosted Charles Lindbergh at the house. An inventor, Hartness built underground tunnels under the house so that he could work down there. It's said he's still there, working on his inventions, and that may be the reason for odd occurrences such as the lights turning on and off and objects disappearing and then reappearing elsewhere.

The town of Port Gamble is pretty haunted itself, so when locals and ghost hunters claim that the Walker-Ames House is the most haunted in the state let alone the town, they mean it's pretty haunted. Haunted tours of the house are offered, led by a paranormal investigator, and people have allegedly heard voices, seen ghostly apparitions, and even felt someone grabbing at them.

Built in the early 19th century, the Glen Ferris Inn is a historic hotel in West Virginia that served as a field hospital during the Civil War, and as a result, many of the apparitions here seem to be tied to that time period. In addition to Confederate soldiers and a woman in white, one ghost in particular that people have come across has been dubbed "The Colonel." This friendly ghost is usually heard walking around, playing with the birdbath, and closing doors.

Built in the early 20th century for George and Julia Ferris, the Ferris Mansion is a historic site that looks like a castle. Serving as a bed-and-breakfast in more recent years, its guests have heard footsteps where there is no one and experienced many electrical disturbances. Often spotted are three ghostly figures: two boys — one of whom is said to be the Ferris's son Cecil, who was accidentally shot — and a woman said to be Julia herself. You may not be able to visit this house at the moment, as the Ferris Mansion is currently up for sale, but soon enough, another owner will take it over and hopefully keep it running as a fantastic bed and breakfast.